Million Acorn Challenge, 8/22-9/16

Join Great River Greening’s Million Acorn Challenge!

August 22 – September 16

This August and September, join Great River Greening in collecting acorns to restore local oak savannas! Volunteers are needed to help collect acorns from sites all across the metro area. Every acorn counts, and you can start at a park or natural area near you (with land-owner permission)!

An informational packet with details for the collection will be sent to all registrants in early August.

Your efforts will renew and restore local oak savanna populations.

Did you know that there used to be nearly two million acres of oak savanna in the Twin Cities? Today, fewer than 3,800 acres remain. Help us reach our goal of collecting one million acorns within the seven county metro area, where they will eventually be planted in the South Washington Conservation Corridor or at Doyle-Kennefick Regional Park. The South Washington Conservation Corridor is an important greenway that provides an important habitat corridor and critical storage for stormwater runoff in the event of a significant rainfall. Doyle-Kennefick will be a new regional park as part of the Three Rivers Park District. It has distinctive rolling hills studded by wetlands, and is being restored back to oak savanna. The Challenge is for individuals, families, school groups, church groups and community groups. Cash prizes awarded to the top collectors (based on weight).

Register today, start collecting in August!

YOU can help bring oak savannas back to the Twin Cities when you participate in the Million Acorn Challenge! Acorns can be collected anytime after they begin to drop (roughly mid-August) until September 16, but pre-registration is required. Sign up today and you’ll receive a registration packet filled with challenge rules, acorn types, and helpful hints and resources. Collection must occur within a 25 mile radius of Doyle-Kennefick Regional Park or South Washington Conservation Corridor to ensure acorns math the sites’ ecotypes. Maps will be provided, and Greening will provide suggested collecting sites to all groups.

This project is made possible with support from the Scott County, Three Rivers Park District, South Washington Watershed District, the Outdoor Heritage Fund, and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

Acorn drop off locations will be at Great River Greening on the following dates:

• September 2, from 12-7pm

• September 9, from 12-7pm

• September 16, from 12-7pm

Great River Greening address:

35 West Water Street

Saint Paul, MN 55107

The acorns will be nursery propagated and later planted. Top collectors will be rewarded with a cash prize.

To collect acorns, you MUST have permission from the landowner, whether private or public. This includes parks and other public lands. Great River Greening is not responsible for failure to obtain permission.

Greening will be obtaining permission from local sites, including parks and natural areas. A list will be provided in details that will be sent out at the end of July.